It is now apparent to any observant follower that what unifies The Episcopal Church is not the "faith once for all delivered to the saints" but the Dennis Canon. There are now two religions in The Episcopal Church. Scripture and the creeds unify one; the other lives by the Dennis Canon, the call for interfaith alliances, religious diversity and pluriformity. There are only a small handful of orthodox dioceses that stand totally and 100% for the faith and reject pansexuality. One or two orthodox dioceses wink at gay priests in their diocese, but the public position of the bishop is that only sex between a man and a woman in holy matrimony is acceptable sexual behavior. That TEC refuses to see that immorality (pansexuality) and theological relativism are inextricably linked will be its ultimate downfall. God will never allow the open and public acceptance of sin to reign in His kingdom. He cannot. It defies the standards He has set for entrance into his Kingdom and attempts to nullify Jesus' substitutionary death on the cross for our sin. Why would our Lord lay down his life for sinners if we stand up and say we can give certain sins a pass? It won't happen. God doesn't demand perfection he demands repentance.
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The news that the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMIA) had experienced a split remains the lead story of the week. This is a tragedy of the first order. Liberal Episcopal bloggers think it has to do with money when that is not the case at all. Money was, at the most, a secondary issue. Clearly there were misunderstandings about the nature of the Missionary Society envisioned by Bishop Chuck Murphy, the timing of that in relation to the retirement of Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini and Archbishop Rwaje coming in. Add to that some unfortunate comments made by Bishop Murphy about "reverse colonialism" and comparing the Rwandans to the Egyptians and AMIA to the Israelites and you have a recipe for disaster. As things now stand, Murphy and AMIA are going out on their own. Two former AMIA bishops, Thad Barnum and Terrell Glenn, will serve those who wish to remain under the Anglican Province of Rwanda.
Brokenness in the Body of Christ is nothing to be laughed at or mocked, as it is a tragedy of monumental proportions. Relationships are broken, usually forever. It often takes decades for wounds to heal. Parishes and priests are divided about what they should do. In today's digest you can read the lament of one layman, Henry Wall, who wrote his View from the Pew of AMIA - Christ is Still the King It is a sad but hopeful piece. He writes, "As a six year member of the Anglican Mission, I remain confused and saddened by the recent divisions in our leadership. To put the matter in context here in Columbia S.C., our congregation had just completed a very ambitious building project when the week before our opening celebration we learned that our Bishop Glenn had resigned. As these events unfolded, I found myself, a cradle Episcopalian who left the national church over the issue of poor leadership, particularly within the House of Bishops, wondering indeed whether I had been duped by a brand of even worse leadership, and to use a bad, morbid, modern analogy, whether I 'drank the Kool-Aid', indeed, had I distributed the Kool-Aid to others, my family, my friends?"
Honestly, the answer is yes and no. Yes, because we all feel a bit foolish over these latest events. You can read Hank's full account here:http://tinyurl.com/87njawd
Following in his footsteps, the Rev. Dr. Tony Baron offers a pastoral response in a piece Bishops in Conflict: The Godly Response
Baron opines that the recent events surrounding the Province of Rwanda and the Anglican Mission have provided much fodder for news pundits, social media outlets, parishes, and those in Holy Orders in the United States and abroad. Many assumptions have been made about the past, and rampant speculations about the future have been provided to anyone who desires to read or to listen. The resulting facts, rumors, and innuendos have created increased levels of anxiety, anger, and depression among many within the Anglican Mission. You can read what he says in today's digest.
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While the AMIA was breaking up, news came that the orthodox faithful at Christ Church, Savannah, are finally being driven from their historic home on Johnson Square. It has seen such illustrious preachers as John Wesley.
The Rev. Marc Robertson wrote VOL saying God has provided for them. The congregation was received into an independent Presbyterian Church down the road. "It was a powerful day -- one that I hope I can share with my grand-children one day, God willing. Attendance at the 10:30 a.m. service was over 450, and for all Sunday services well over 550. It was 'Easter-esqe.' There was an amazing spectrum of emotions, much like the funeral of a great saint, but the conclusion at IPC was filled with hope."
Robertson said he received all of the 1928 Prayer Books, most of the Pew Bibles, and all of their Parish Songbooks from Christ Church Episcopal. "The Children's School has made an arrangement with CCE, for the short term, to remain in the building. Our Bible studies for both men and women in the Emmaus House ministry (breakfast for the homeless) have been asked to leave. We will re-locate them at the Baptist Center, which has been most gracious in housing our Clothes Closet for the poor over the last year. It is an incredible honor to be the priest and pastor of this congregation. I am inspired by their faith, their constancy, and their commitment. In all of that, however, my ultimate confidence is in the Lord, and I know our future, in His hands, is bright."
What this says is that to follow Christ can be, and is, costly. We should never underestimate the price martyrs have paid for defending the faith, so by losing some real estate, as hard as that might be, they have "not suffered unto blood" (Hebrews Heb 12:4). We are exhorted in times like these to keep running the race, enduring the insults and wounds of the adversary. We know that in the end the victory is His. We are only called to be faithful.
VOL was told that a mere 17 people who left the historic Christ Church congregation at the time of disaffiliation from TEC returned to occupy the building. One wonders how Georgia Bishop Scott Benhase can look at himself in the mirror. His resume says he is "a strong leader and is enormously passionate about the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Buried in his resume is that he was converted to Christ and worked with Campus Crusade for Christ and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes before becoming an Episcopal priest and working his way up the Episcopal ladder. One wonders what goes through his mind tossing out a faithful congregation. Is the Dennis Canon so sacred and is David Booth Beers so frightening that he and Jefferts Schori MUST be obeyed?
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